Danvers schools outline special-education training, Medicaid claims push as out‑of‑district costs rise

Danvers special-education leaders told the school committee they are expanding staff training, reworking programs for language‑based learning disabilities and moving to increase Medicaid and other third‑party claims to recover revenue as out‑of‑district tuition costs rise.

The update, delivered by assistant directors Marla Dela Cruz and Derek Munyon and out‑of‑district coordinator Angelique Delacoste, outlined professional development developed after an audit by Constellations Behavioral Services and a separate federal grant to train educators in specialized reading instruction. "This analysis showed that we still need to provide more reading training for our special educators," Delacoste said.

Why it matters: Danvers has seen multiple recent out‑of‑district placements and growing special‑education expenses that have pushed the district's operating projection higher. School finance staff told the committee the district expects to close the year using existing reserves and timing of state reimbursements, but trustees were warned…